ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs 
Cabinet approves Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited, Assam
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited , Namrup  to sustain operations of it's urea manufacturing units.
BVFCL, Namrup is a Public Sector Undertaking formed as per Companies Act, under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers , Government of India. At present, the Company is operating its two vintage plants viz. Namrup-ll and Namrup-lll in the premises of BVFCL in Namrup, Assam. Despite being the first gas based urea manufacturing unit in India and having all the infrastructure and feedstock availability, it has been difficult to maintain reasonable production level from the existing units in a cost effective manner because of their old & obsolete technology. In order to ensure the safe, sustainable and economic operation of the plants, certain equipment and machineries need to be replaced/overhauled. The minimum functional repair to be undertaken for smoother operation of the plants with procurement of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and catalyst items etc. shall attract an estimated expenditure of Rs.100 crores and therefore, Gol approved Grant in Aid of Rs. 100 crores to BVFCL.
BVFCL is situated at North-Eastern part of India, which plays an important role of economic growth in the region. The grant in aid of Rs. 100 crore to BVFCL will restore the urea production capacity of 3.90 Lac MT per annum and ensure timely availability of Urea to Tea Industry & Farming Sector in the entire North Eastern region specially Assam. It will also continue the existing employment of about 580 employees on permanent basis and another 1500 persons on ad-hoc basis. Further, 28000 people get benefits indirectly by this establishment. This will also strengthen the 'ATMA NIRBHAR BHARAT campaign of the Government of India.
President's Secretariat
Probationers of Indian Forest Service call on the President
A group of probationers of the Indian Forest Service  called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, today  at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Addressing the probationers, the President said that the Government of India and state governments are making considerable efforts to protect the forest wealth of our country and increase green cover. However, sustainability and success of ecological restoration and conservation lies in mass mobilisation. A large number of poor people, including tribals, live in and around the forests of our country. It is through forests that they fulfil their basic needs of food and fodder. These people are simple and hard-working - and they are very wise. They respect forests as part of their traditions and beliefs. Any measures to protect forests should be sensitive to the basic needs of these people and involve them as partners.
The President said that the joint forest management model that India has adopted envisages working with local people and communities in the management of forests. Linking livelihood opportunities with conservation efforts is important for ensuring effective participation of local people. The President said that once people and communities are involved in forest management efforts, the solutions the Forest Officers seek shall become more sustainable and effective.
Click here for President's Speech
Cabinet
Cabinet approves inclusion of the AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres component of Ayushman Bharat in National AYUSH Mission
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the inclusion of AYUSH Health and Wellness Centre  component of Ayushman Bharat in National AYUSH Mission .
The proposal entails an expenditure of Rs. 3399.35 Crore  for operationalization of AYUSH HWCs within a period of five years that is from financial years 2019-20 to 2023-24.
The operationlization of AYUSH HWCs component under NAM shall have to achieve the following objectives:
a. To establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices focusing on preventive promotive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative healthcare by integration with the existing public health care system.
b. To provide informed choice to the needy public by making the AYUSH services available.
c. The AYUSH services include community awareness about lifestyle, die, Yoga, medicinal plants and provision of medicines for selected conditions as per strength of AYUSH systems.
The Ministry of AYUSH, in consultation with States/UTs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and other line Ministries, has proposed following two models for operationalization of 12,500 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres throughout the country:
- Upgradation of existing AYUSH dispensaries 
- Upgradation of existing Sub Health Centres  
Benefits:
- Enhanced accessibility to achieve universal health coverage for affordable treatment.
- Reduced burden on secondary and tertiary health care facilities
- Reduced out of pocket expenditure due to "self-care" model.
- Integration of AYUSH in implementation of SDG 3, as mandated by NITI Aayog
- Validated holistic wellness model in target areas.
Background:
The National Health Policy 2017 has advocated mainstreaming the potential of AYUSH systems  within a pluralistic system of Integrative healthcare.
The Government of India, in February, 2018 has decided that 1.5 lakh health & wellness Centres would be created by transforming existing Sub health Centres and Primary health Centres to deliver Comprehensive Primary health Care.
It was further decided that Ministry of AYUSH will operationalize 10% of the total sub-health Centres as Health and Wellness Centres i.e. 12,500 under Ayushman Bharat.
The vision of the proposal is to establish a holistic wellness model based on AYUSH principles and practices, to empower masses for "self care" to reduce the disease burden and out of pocket expenditure and to provide informed choice of the needy public.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Bengaluru
The Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure operation on a major liquor manufacturer group based in Bengaluru on 09.02.2021 at 26 different locations across India. This group has huge land bank which is being developed into residential and commercial properties with a builder based in Bengaluru. The searches have resulted in detecting incriminating evidences relating to concealment of income of more than Rs. 692.82 crore on account of Joint Development Projects with a major builder based in Bengaluru. Also, the group companies have fraudulently claimed expenses amounting to Rs. 86 crore. In respect of their liquor business, unaccounted sales amounting to Rs. 74 crore have been detected from one of their liquor manufacturing plants based in Kerala. The group companies have also claimed bogus expenses of Rs. 17 crore in their business entities.The Directors of the group have incurred unexplained expenditure of Rs. 9 crore attracting the provisions of Section 69C of Income-tax Act,1961.
There are large number of investments made in benami properties in the names of their employees and associates for several years. In total 35 suspected benami properties in the names of their relatives and associates valued at more than Rs. 150 crore have been identified. There are also evidences of foreign assets in the name of a director of the group company.
In all, the search and seizure action has resulted in the detection of total undisclosed income of Rs. 878.82 crore.
Further investigations are in progress.
Special Service and Features
Let’s make ‘Clean Air For All’ a participative mission: Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav in Chennai
“It’s time to make ‘Clean Air For All’ a participative mission. The air quality improvement efforts have shown positive trends in achievement of better air quality in cities across the country. But if we wish to achieve what we aspire, ‘Jan Bhagidari’ or participative governance holds the key.” This was stated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav in Chennai today during the inauguration of Sensitization cum Review Workshop – National Clean Air Programme  and XV-FC Million Plus Cities Challenge Fund  of Southern region comprising Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Pondicherry, Daman and Diu and Dadar and Nagar Haveli.
Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister for Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu Shri Siva . V. Meyyanathan, Secretary of Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Smt Leena Nandan, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forest, Government of Tamil Nadu Smt Supriya Sahu, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar participated in the inaugural ceremony of the 2 day regional workshop organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Speaking on the occasion Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav appreciated the state mentioning that Chennai, Madurai and Trichy, the 3 million plus cities' air quality is within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. He also praised the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board for the initiative of E- Commute program, under which all the officials of the board commute to office every Wednesday through non fossil fuel driven vehicles.
In another revolutionary step, he asserted that India leapfrogged to BS-VI standard and the adoption of its norms for fuel and vehicles is one of the landmark policy decisions towards combating air pollution.
“Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018. The list is a heterogeneous mix of cities of all sizes and types and in southern India we have 13 such cities from Andhra Pradesh and 4 each from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana”, he added.
Shri Bhupender Yadav recalled the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensure clean air to all people by improving the air quality in around 100 cities through holistic approach.
The Minister appealed to the young population to become active agents in the mission to improve air quality by adopting sustainable lifestyles, appropriate behaviours and attitudes and become change agents of the society. He expressed confidence that with the coordination, collaboration, participation and sustained efforts of all stakeholders, the objectives of NCAP in addressing the issue of air pollution in a comprehensive manner will be achieved.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
FUNCTIONAL DAMS
As per the National Register of Large Dams  compiled by the Central Water Commission, there are 5334 completed large dams in the country. The State/UT-wise list of these large dams is attached as Annexure.
Out of these 5334 large dams, there are 234 numbers of large dams, which are more than 100 years old . The State/UT-wise list of these dams is attached as Annexure.
Dam owners, which are mostly the State Governments and Central/State Undertaking, carry out themselves the safety audit in terms of periodical pre-monsoon and post-monsoon inspection of their dams to identify deficiencies or areas that need monitoring or immediate attention. Some States have also constituted the Dam Safety Review Panel consisting of various domain experts for comprehensive inspection of the dams to assess the structural and operational safety. However, the life span of a dam is normally till such time it performs its intended functions without jeopardizing the safety of people living in its vicinity.
Further, Union Government has enacted the Dam Safety Act, 2021 for proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dams for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning and related matters.
The Act provides for Comprehensive Dam Safety Evaluation of each of the specified dam through an independent panel of experts constituted for the purpose for determining the conditions of the specified dam and for general assessment of the dam in respect of hydrologic, hydraulic, seismic and operational safety considerations.
In order to improve the safety and operational performance of select existing dams in the country, Government of India is implementing the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project  with external funding. Under the World Bank funded DRIP Phase-I programme, which was implemented during April 2012 to March 2021, 223 existing dams located in 7 States have been comprehensively audited and rehabilitated at a cost of Rs. 2,567 crore. After completion of DRIP Phase- I programme, Government of India has taken up DRIP Phase-II & III. The scheme envisages rehabilitation and safety improvement of 736 dams located in 19 States, with a budget outlay of Rs 10,211 crore. The scheme is of 10 years duration.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Bishweswar Tudu in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
COVID19-Omicron Update
Centre Revises Guidelines for International Arrivals
All travellers will undergo home quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RT-PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India
The Revised Guidelines will come into effect from 11th January 2022 
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has revised the Guidelines for International Arrival on 6th January 2022 in view of the changing nature of COVID -19 virus and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern  i.e. Omicron variant and reported increase in the cases worldwide. These guidelines shall be valid from 11th January 2022 
These were last updated on 30th November 2021.
The Revised Guidelines are posted on the Health Ministry’s website and can be accessed at-
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/RevisedGuidelinesforInternationalArrivalsdated7thJanuary2022.pdf
The following changes have been made in the Revised Guidelines of 6th January 2022 as compared to previous guidelines :
- All travellers  will undergo home quarantine for 7 days and shall undertake RT-PCR test on the 8th day of arrival in India.
- Travelers shall also be required to upload results of RT-PCR test for COVID-19 done on 8th day on Air Suvidha portal .
- All travellers who need to undertake testing on arrival, should preferably pre-book the test online on Air Suvidha Portal, to facilitate timely testing and avoid inconvenience.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage crosses 67 Cr landmark
More than 74 Lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 97.45%
45,352 New Cases reported in the last 24 hours
India's Active Caseload  is 1.22% of Total Cases
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 70 days
In a significant achievement, India’s cumulative vaccination coverage has crossed 67 Crore landmark today. With the administration of 74,84,333 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed the cumulative figure of 67.09 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 70,34,846 sessions.
The break-up of the cumulative figure as per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
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HCWs
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1st Dose
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1,03,59,980
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2nd Dose
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84,31,889
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|
FLWs
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1st Dose
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1,83,27,552
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2nd Dose
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1,33,92,967
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Age Group 18-44 years
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1st Dose
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|
26,38,65,685
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2nd Dose
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|
3,10,32,810
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Age Group 45-59 years
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|
1st Dose
|
|
13,43,94,957
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|
2nd Dose
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|
5,65,34,391
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|
Over 60 years
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|
1st Dose
|
|
8,85,83,164
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|
2nd Dose
|
|
4,60,36,573
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|
Total
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|
67,09,59,968
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.
The recovery of 34,791 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients  to 3,20,63,616.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 97.45%.
Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 50,000 Daily New Cases that is being reported for 68 consecutive days now.
45,352 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The Active Caseload is presently 3,99,778. Active cases presently constitute 1.22% of the country's total Positive Cases.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 16,66,334 tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 52.65 Cr  cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 2.66% remains less than 3% for the last 70 days now. The Daily Positivity rate stands at 2.72%. The daily Positivity rate has remained below 5% for 88 consecutive days now.
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs
CSR for Swachh Bharat Mission  2.0
Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban  was launched during October, 2014 with the objectives of making entire urban areas of the country Open Defecation Free  and for scientific management of the entire Municipal Solid Waste  generated. In order to carry forward the progress made under SBM-U, the next phase i.e., SBM-U 2.0 has been launched. Under SBM – Urban 2.0, Central Share funds are released for construction of Individual Household Latrines, Community Toilets/Public Toilets, Used Water Management, Solid Waste Management, Information, Education and Communication & Behaviour Change and Capacity Building, Skill Development & Knowledge Management components.
Since inception of SBM-U in 2014, a total of 62.81 lakh Individual Household Latrines  units and 6.36 lakh Community Toilet/Public Toilet  have been constructed under the Mission. Out of total 92,634 wards, a total of 89,699 wards are practicing 100% door-to-door collection of waste and 83,487 wards are following 100% source segregation. As on date, out of total waste generated, a total of 75% of waste is processed.
To carry forward the momentum generated by AMRUT, AMRUT 2.0 is launched on October 2021 aimed to provide ease of living to all the citizens living in urban areas through undertaking large infrastructure projects & reforms. So far, State Water Action Plans comprising 6,527 projects worth ₹1,29,636 Cr.  have been approved by Apex Committee at MoHUA. These include 2,996 water supply projects worth ₹87,896 crore, 447 Sewerage/Septage Management projects worth ₹37,636 crore & 982 Parks/ Green Spaces Development projects worth ₹439 crore. Out of approved projects, so far 20 projects worth ₹103.99 cr. have been completed and work is in progress in 633 projects worth ₹5634.55 cr.
SBM–U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been launched on 1st October, 2021 for implementation across all the urban area of the country with a total outlay of ₹1,41,600 crores and ₹2,77,000 crores which includes Central Share  along with corresponding State matching share, Urban Local Bodies  share and through Public Private Partnership  etc. There is no provision for maintaining details of Corporate Social Responsibility  funding under these two schemes.
To monitor flow and utilization of funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes  including SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0, a new procedure for flow of funds under CSS has been notified by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance on 23rd March, 2021. Under the new procedure, each CSS is to be implemented by a Single Nodal Agency  having a Single Nodal Account in a scheduled commercial bank. The down the line Implementing Agencies  use Zero Balance Accounts to draw funds from the SNA account which on a real time basis indicates the contribution of State Share  as well as funds utilization.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Kaushal Kishore, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Railways
Redevelopment of Railway Stations
Indian Railways has planned for redevelopment of stations by leveraging real estate potential of sparable land and air space in and around the stations. For this, Railway conducts techno-economic feasibility studies of stations across the country. Based on the outcome of these feasibility studies, stations are taken up for redevelopment in phases.
Works of redevelopment of Habibganj and Gandhinagar railway stations are in advanced stage of completion. Works for redevelopment of Gomti Nagar and Ayodhya stations are in progress. Request for Qualification  have been finalized for 08 stations viz., Nagpur, Amritsar, Sabarmati, Gwalior, Puducherry, Tirupati, Nellore and Dehradun. RFQ have been invited for 03 stations viz., New Delhi, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus  and Ernakulam.
Buxer, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Muzaffarpur and Rajendra Nagar railway stations in the State of Bihar; Bokaro Steel City, Ranchi and Hatia stations in the State of Jharkhand and Jammu Tawi station in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir have been identified for conducting techno-economic feasibility studies towards redevelopment of stations. Station redevelopment projects are generally taken up on Public Private Participation  mode.
This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Law and Justice
PRESS COMMUNIQUE
Vide notifications dated 01.11.2022, in exercise of the power conferred by clause  of Article 224 of the Constitution of India, the President, after consultation with the Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint following Advocate/ Judicial Officers as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court :-
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Sl.
No.
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Name 
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Details of Appointment
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1
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Shri Kuldeep Tiwari, Advocate
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As Additional Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court
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2
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Shri Gurbir Singh. Judicial Officer
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3
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Shri Deepak Gupta, Judicial Officer
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4
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Smt. Amarjot Bhatti, Judicial Officer
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5
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Smt. Ritu Tagore, Judicial Officer
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6
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Smt. Manisha Batra, Judicial Officer
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7
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Ms. Harpreet Kaur Jeewan, Judicial Officer
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8
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Smt. Sukhvinder Kaur, Judicial Officer
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9
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Shri Sanjiv Berry, Judicial Officer
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10
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Shri Vikram Aggarwal, Judicial Officer
Ministry of Defence
Indian Navy Mobilises IL38 - Transports Face Masks from Delhi for Goa Health Workers
A shipment of 60,000 face masks ordered by Indian Medical Association, Goa to offset the shortfall in Goa was stuck at Delhi as trucks could not proceed further in the current situation of lockdown.
A request for facilitating transportation of the masks to Goa was made by the President, Indian Medical Association to the Indian Navy at Goa.
Accordingly, an Ilyushin 38SD , a Long Range Maritime Reconnaisence Aircraft of the Indian Navy, was promptly readied to depart INS Hansa for Palam Airport, New Delhi today, 27 Mar 2020. The collection of the items at Delhi was coordinated by Air Force Station Palam and the aircraft returned to Goa with the masks the same day.
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VM/ MS 30/20
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